Sumlin tabs South Florida’s Snyder as defensive coordinator

COLLEGE STATION – New Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin has hired a defensive coordinator, according to a person with knowledge of the situation: South Florida defensive coordinator Mark Snyder.

Mark Snyder

Snyder has been with South Florida for the last two years, and previously was head coach at Marshall for five seasons. He coached at Ohio State from 2001-04, the last as defensive coordinator before accepting the Marshall job.

South Florida ranked 39th nationally in total defense this season. Sumlin had pursued Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi last week, but Narduzzi opted to stay with the Spartans.

Sumlin was hired last month from Houston to replace Mike Sherman, who was fired following a 25-25 record over four seasons. Sherman’s defensive coordinator, Tim DeRuyter, is the new head coach at Fresno State, so he was never an option to stay onboard with the Aggies.

The Aggies, coming off a 7-6 season capped by a Meineke Bowl victory over Northwestern, are entering the Southeastern Conference this summer. Snyder, 47, has not coached in the SEC, according to his South Florida bio. He’s a native of South Point, Ohio, and played safety at Marshall in the mid 1980s.